27 days ago
President Donald Trump has appointed far more federal judges who are under 40 than his predecessors — ensuring that his imprint on the judiciary will last for decades.
Over the course of his two terms to date, Trump has appointed 31 people in their 30s to federal judgeships, and at least two more are pending in the Senate, according to a POLITICO ***** ysis of government data. By contrast, President Joe Biden appointed 13 people in their 30s. President Barack Obama appointed just nine judges younger than 40 during his two terms.
A judge in his or her 30s can remain in place for as long as 60 years — there are multiple sitting judges in their 90s and one who is 102 — allowing the president who appointed them to leave a particularly long-lasting imprint on the courts.
"President Trump selects highly-qualified and credentialed judicial nominees who have passed the White House's rigorous vetting process. Wherever there are judicial vacancies, President Trump will select highly qualified nominees with great respect for our Constitution and rule of law to be confirmed expeditiously," White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said.
Trump's young nominees include Samuel Adkisson, an ***** ociate in the White House Counsel's Office who was 33 when Trump nominated him — making him one of the youngest people ever nominated to the federal bench. In his social media post announcing Adkisson's nomination, which is currently pending in the Senate, Trump praised his work on a case that resulted in the Supreme Court widening the president's power to control executive branch agencies.
#people #senate
Over the course of his two terms to date, Trump has appointed 31 people in their 30s to federal judgeships, and at least two more are pending in the Senate, according to a POLITICO ***** ysis of government data. By contrast, President Joe Biden appointed 13 people in their 30s. President Barack Obama appointed just nine judges younger than 40 during his two terms.
A judge in his or her 30s can remain in place for as long as 60 years — there are multiple sitting judges in their 90s and one who is 102 — allowing the president who appointed them to leave a particularly long-lasting imprint on the courts.
"President Trump selects highly-qualified and credentialed judicial nominees who have passed the White House's rigorous vetting process. Wherever there are judicial vacancies, President Trump will select highly qualified nominees with great respect for our Constitution and rule of law to be confirmed expeditiously," White House spokesperson Lauren Bis said.
Trump's young nominees include Samuel Adkisson, an ***** ociate in the White House Counsel's Office who was 33 when Trump nominated him — making him one of the youngest people ever nominated to the federal bench. In his social media post announcing Adkisson's nomination, which is currently pending in the Senate, Trump praised his work on a case that resulted in the Supreme Court widening the president's power to control executive branch agencies.
#people #senate
27 days ago
Updated on: October 4, 2026 / 8:06 PM EDT / CBS News
As Sen. Thom Tillis exits the Senate, he's blasting many of the advisers President Trump has surrounded himself with as "sycophants, and calling on his colleagues to stand up to executive power like the co-equal branch of government they are."
The 66-year-old senior senator from North Carolina unloads on what he calls the "WTF moments" of the second Trump Administration in a new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents." Having served in the Senate during the Barack Obama, Joe Biden and both Trump presidencies, Tillis said he's increasingly worried about how the nation's system of checks and balances is being tested by the outsized influence of the executive branch.
"We will have a sort of dictator king if we're not careful," he said.
Every recent White House has been eager to govern by executive order, something that's been especially true during the current Trump administration, Tillis said. Presidents, he said, fail to understand that Congress is a coequal branch that should be treated as a peer, and that Congress needs to act as such.
#tillis #congress #updated #october
As Sen. Thom Tillis exits the Senate, he's blasting many of the advisers President Trump has surrounded himself with as "sycophants, and calling on his colleagues to stand up to executive power like the co-equal branch of government they are."
The 66-year-old senior senator from North Carolina unloads on what he calls the "WTF moments" of the second Trump Administration in a new book, "How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents." Having served in the Senate during the Barack Obama, Joe Biden and both Trump presidencies, Tillis said he's increasingly worried about how the nation's system of checks and balances is being tested by the outsized influence of the executive branch.
"We will have a sort of dictator king if we're not careful," he said.
Every recent White House has been eager to govern by executive order, something that's been especially true during the current Trump administration, Tillis said. Presidents, he said, fail to understand that Congress is a coequal branch that should be treated as a peer, and that Congress needs to act as such.
#tillis #congress #updated #october
28 days ago
Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, are celebrating 34 years of marriage.
The former US President and First Lady marked the occasion with a carousel of pictures and videos posted to Instagram.
"Loving you just keeps getting better and better!" Michelle wrote on Saturday. "Happy anniversary, BarackObama. Here's to many, many more years of joy, laughter and memories to come."
Barack also shared a sweet tribute to his other half on Saturday.
"Happy anniversary, MichelleObama!" the former president wrote. "I'm still the luckiest guy in the world to be with you."
The couple met in 1989 at the Chicago law firm where they both worked at the time, but it reportedly wasn't love at first sight.
#obama #president #years
The former US President and First Lady marked the occasion with a carousel of pictures and videos posted to Instagram.
"Loving you just keeps getting better and better!" Michelle wrote on Saturday. "Happy anniversary, BarackObama. Here's to many, many more years of joy, laughter and memories to come."
Barack also shared a sweet tribute to his other half on Saturday.
"Happy anniversary, MichelleObama!" the former president wrote. "I'm still the luckiest guy in the world to be with you."
The couple met in 1989 at the Chicago law firm where they both worked at the time, but it reportedly wasn't love at first sight.
#obama #president #years
1 month ago
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Killing endangered animals while logging a forest or building a dam would not be considered illegal unless the animals were specifically targeted, under a new interpretation of the Endangered Species Act by President Donald Trump's administration that marks a sea change in how the landmark environmental law is enforced.
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls.
Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Pacific Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds nesting in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon.
"This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act," said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama.
#species #president #killing
A directive sent to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees this week says imperiled animals or plants must be intentionally targeted for their killing to be considered illegal.
That's a sharp turnaround from past practice at the wildlife service, which historically held people liable even for accidentally harming protected species such as grizzly bears, manatees and spotted owls.
Experts said the change would allow timber companies to log forests in the Pacific Northwest even if they knew that doing so could kill imperiled birds nesting in the trees, or for developers to build a dam knowing it would kill salmon.
"This cuts against the entire history of the Endangered Species Act," said Dan Ashe, who led the Fish and Wildlife Service under former President Barack Obama.
#species #president #killing
2 months ago
Sept 13 (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Barack Obama has warned that artificial intelligence could be "dangerous" if not properly managed, and urged Democrats to frame policy and governance agendas to tackle the issue, the New York Times said on Sunday.
The remarks at a recent private fundraising event come as growing numbers of U.S. lawmakers call for tougher rules on AI systems after dire warnings from two Anthropic researchers that rapid industry progress risks extinction of the human race.
"This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don't get on top of it, I think can be dangerous," the newspaper quoted Obama as saying on Thursday.
Citing a partial transcript of remarks from Obama's office, the paper said he encouraged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to help shape a public conversation on AI policy if Democrats regained the House in midterm elections on November 3.
"Once you are speaker, I would strongly urge that the Democrats put together a framework for a very public conversation," Obama told Jeffries, the paper added.
#obama #democrats #private
The remarks at a recent private fundraising event come as growing numbers of U.S. lawmakers call for tougher rules on AI systems after dire warnings from two Anthropic researchers that rapid industry progress risks extinction of the human race.
"This is something that is moving very fast in private hands, and if we don't get on top of it, I think can be dangerous," the newspaper quoted Obama as saying on Thursday.
Citing a partial transcript of remarks from Obama's office, the paper said he encouraged House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to help shape a public conversation on AI policy if Democrats regained the House in midterm elections on November 3.
"Once you are speaker, I would strongly urge that the Democrats put together a framework for a very public conversation," Obama told Jeffries, the paper added.
#obama #democrats #private
2 months ago
Elon Musk, who owns X, is the platform's most-followed person, with 242 million followers.
Musk has more followers than Barack Obama and Cristiano Ronaldo, the next two largest accounts, combined.
Politicians and musicians dominate the ranking, alongside several of the world's biggest athletes.
There are many ways to grow a social media following. When looking to outperform world leaders, however, it helps to own the platform itself.
This visualization ranks the 15 most-followed people on X (formerly Twitter) as of September 2026. Accounts belonging to brands or companies, including X itself, have been excluded.
#accounts #followers #itself #obama
Musk has more followers than Barack Obama and Cristiano Ronaldo, the next two largest accounts, combined.
Politicians and musicians dominate the ranking, alongside several of the world's biggest athletes.
There are many ways to grow a social media following. When looking to outperform world leaders, however, it helps to own the platform itself.
This visualization ranks the 15 most-followed people on X (formerly Twitter) as of September 2026. Accounts belonging to brands or companies, including X itself, have been excluded.
#accounts #followers #itself #obama
2 months ago
As former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Vice President JD Vance and other dignitaries gather in New York to honor those lost in the Sept. 11 attacks, historian Walter Isaacson and Andy Card, former Chief of Staff to President George W. Bush, join TODAY to share their reflections of that day.
#presidents #bill #clinton #barack
#presidents #bill #clinton #barack
2 months ago
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has never been shy about speaking his mind, and as he enters what he is adamant will be his final season in the NFL, Rodgers is making it clear that he's letting whatever comes to mind fly.
In a two-part interview on teammate Cam Heyward's Not Just Football with Cam Heywardpodcast, Rodgers did not mince words about his feelings toward ESPN, doubling down on his criticism of the network during the Steelers' training camp.
"ESPN is really scared," Rodgers ***** erted. "Because I can speak up and speak my mind. And that McAfee thing rattled their feathers because I didn't just say that on McAfee's show—honestly, I love Pat, and he's done more for that network than any other horrible show they have on there—they should pay those guys doing it.
"But I also said, 'you're a gutless organization,' because they haven't said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues, but you won't talk one second about the Danny Russini situation?"
Rodgers also made it clear how he feels about former President Barack Obama and the lack of impact he had on the Black community, as well as where current President Donald Trump's loyalties actually lie.
#espn #network
In a two-part interview on teammate Cam Heyward's Not Just Football with Cam Heywardpodcast, Rodgers did not mince words about his feelings toward ESPN, doubling down on his criticism of the network during the Steelers' training camp.
"ESPN is really scared," Rodgers ***** erted. "Because I can speak up and speak my mind. And that McAfee thing rattled their feathers because I didn't just say that on McAfee's show—honestly, I love Pat, and he's done more for that network than any other horrible show they have on there—they should pay those guys doing it.
"But I also said, 'you're a gutless organization,' because they haven't said anything. They spend so much time on certain issues, but you won't talk one second about the Danny Russini situation?"
Rodgers also made it clear how he feels about former President Barack Obama and the lack of impact he had on the Black community, as well as where current President Donald Trump's loyalties actually lie.
#espn #network
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2 months ago
Sept 5 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court panel rejected the Trump administration's bid to lift a ban on using a federal immigration database to check the accuracy of citizenship records on states' voter rolls.
In a 2-1 ruling on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declined to lift a lower court's ban on using the Homeland Security Department's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database. The earlier ruling determined that the government cannot use the system ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Trump's Republicans will be defending narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins, both appointed to the appeals court by President Barack Obama, upheld the lower court decision that the SAVE system violates the Social Security Act as it shares millions of Americans' private information. The appeals court judges also noted concerns around the potential for inaccurate citizen information that could lead to people having to prove citizenship to remain registered voters, and in some cases could even lead to voter registration being canceled.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas, an appointee of President Donald Trump, dissented.
A federal judge in Florida in July ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to resume giving four Republican-led states access to the database after another judge blocked it from continuing to use the database nationwide.
#court #security #federal #circuit
In a 2-1 ruling on Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia declined to lift a lower court's ban on using the Homeland Security Department's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements database. The earlier ruling determined that the government cannot use the system ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, in which Trump's Republicans will be defending narrow majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Chief Judge Sri Srinivasan and U.S. Circuit Judge Robert Wilkins, both appointed to the appeals court by President Barack Obama, upheld the lower court decision that the SAVE system violates the Social Security Act as it shares millions of Americans' private information. The appeals court judges also noted concerns around the potential for inaccurate citizen information that could lead to people having to prove citizenship to remain registered voters, and in some cases could even lead to voter registration being canceled.
U.S. Circuit Judge Gregory Katsas, an appointee of President Donald Trump, dissented.
A federal judge in Florida in July ordered the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to resume giving four Republican-led states access to the database after another judge blocked it from continuing to use the database nationwide.
#court #security #federal #circuit
2 months ago
CNN host and former advisor to President Barack Obama Van Jones questioned if Michigan Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed thought he was "smarter than Barack Obama" on foreign policy in fiery comments discussing the "dangerous" beliefs held by many progressive figures in the Democratic Party.
El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel and former CNN commentator, has been embroiled in political controversies regarding his stance toward Israel and his relationship with a famous left-wing livestreamer, Hasan Piker.
In late August, Jones appeared on the "Ask Haviv Anything" podcast, where he addressed how the long and historic alliance between Black and Jewish Americans has recently fractured. He went on to criticize El-Sayed over his stance on Israel, saying, "his positions on Israel and foreign policy are insane."
"Look, some Democrats are going to say that we should condition military aid. That, you know, 'Israel's gone too far in Gaza and in the West Bank and in Lebanon. We're going to put some conditions on you.' I think that's a defensible position if you're a Democrat," he said. "That's not Abdul's position."
Van Jones Warns Far-left Socialist Agenda Is 'Regressive' Threat To Democratic Party
#Israel #policy
El-Sayed, a vocal critic of Israel and former CNN commentator, has been embroiled in political controversies regarding his stance toward Israel and his relationship with a famous left-wing livestreamer, Hasan Piker.
In late August, Jones appeared on the "Ask Haviv Anything" podcast, where he addressed how the long and historic alliance between Black and Jewish Americans has recently fractured. He went on to criticize El-Sayed over his stance on Israel, saying, "his positions on Israel and foreign policy are insane."
"Look, some Democrats are going to say that we should condition military aid. That, you know, 'Israel's gone too far in Gaza and in the West Bank and in Lebanon. We're going to put some conditions on you.' I think that's a defensible position if you're a Democrat," he said. "That's not Abdul's position."
Van Jones Warns Far-left Socialist Agenda Is 'Regressive' Threat To Democratic Party
#Israel #policy
2 months ago
Megyn Kelly has some choice words for the former first lady.
During Monday's episode of her eponymous talk show, Kelly, 55, urged Michelle Obama to "get a divorce" from her husband Barack Obama following her comments about parenthood and the pair's marriage.
As Globe previously reported, during Jon Stewart's recent appearance on Michelle's IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson podcast, the Becoming author — who shares daughters Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25, with the former president, 65 — admitted she doesn't miss the energy that came with her kids being in the house now that they are grown.
"I don't miss it. I don't love them. I'm gonna see them tonight for dinner. I love them," Michelle, 52, quipped. "Barack cried when they went to college. I was like, "Bye little… goodbye!"
Calling Michelle a "sociopath," the Megyn Kelly Show host urged the pair to get a divorce after claiming the former attorney not only disliked being a mother but had a disdain for her husband after, in a previous sit-down with Angie Martinez on her IMO podcast, she shared her gratitude over not having a son, out of fear that he might turn out like the 44th commander in chief.
#michelle
During Monday's episode of her eponymous talk show, Kelly, 55, urged Michelle Obama to "get a divorce" from her husband Barack Obama following her comments about parenthood and the pair's marriage.
As Globe previously reported, during Jon Stewart's recent appearance on Michelle's IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson podcast, the Becoming author — who shares daughters Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25, with the former president, 65 — admitted she doesn't miss the energy that came with her kids being in the house now that they are grown.
"I don't miss it. I don't love them. I'm gonna see them tonight for dinner. I love them," Michelle, 52, quipped. "Barack cried when they went to college. I was like, "Bye little… goodbye!"
Calling Michelle a "sociopath," the Megyn Kelly Show host urged the pair to get a divorce after claiming the former attorney not only disliked being a mother but had a disdain for her husband after, in a previous sit-down with Angie Martinez on her IMO podcast, she shared her gratitude over not having a son, out of fear that he might turn out like the 44th commander in chief.
#michelle
2 months ago
Michelle Obama is getting candid about life after her daughters left home—and not every parent on the internet can relate.
The former first lady, 62, recently opened up about becoming an empty nester with her husband, former President Barack Obama. The couple shares two daughters, Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25, and Michelle admitted that she surprisingly doesn't find herself missing them all that much.
The revelation came during a recent episode of Michelle and her brother Craig Robinson's podcast, IMO, which featured comedian Jon Stewart.
The conversation touched on the realities of raising children while juggling demanding careers, the impact that busy schedules can have on marriages and what happens when kids eventually leave home.
When the topic turned to missing her daughters, Michelle didn't hesitate.
#daughters #home #president
The former first lady, 62, recently opened up about becoming an empty nester with her husband, former President Barack Obama. The couple shares two daughters, Malia, 28, and Sasha, 25, and Michelle admitted that she surprisingly doesn't find herself missing them all that much.
The revelation came during a recent episode of Michelle and her brother Craig Robinson's podcast, IMO, which featured comedian Jon Stewart.
The conversation touched on the realities of raising children while juggling demanding careers, the impact that busy schedules can have on marriages and what happens when kids eventually leave home.
When the topic turned to missing her daughters, Michelle didn't hesitate.
#daughters #home #president
2 months ago
Jon Stewart recently compared the Obamas' time in the White House to President Donald Trump's.
"I imagine for you and your family that it's a surreal experience for you guys because of the effort that you put into building something up and to watch it be corrupted," Stewart, 63, remarked on the Wednesday, August 26 episode of Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson's IMO podcast. "To have this perversion of leadership, I imagine, is especially difficult to digest. There's a surreal quality to it."
Stewart then pointed out that the former first lady, 62, and her husband, former President Barack Obama, "left money on the table," joking that she could have had "a Michelle meme coin."
Martin H. Simon/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency
The commander in chief, 80, and First Lady Melania Trump both have meme coins.
#president #imagine #former
"I imagine for you and your family that it's a surreal experience for you guys because of the effort that you put into building something up and to watch it be corrupted," Stewart, 63, remarked on the Wednesday, August 26 episode of Michelle Obama and her brother Craig Robinson's IMO podcast. "To have this perversion of leadership, I imagine, is especially difficult to digest. There's a surreal quality to it."
Stewart then pointed out that the former first lady, 62, and her husband, former President Barack Obama, "left money on the table," joking that she could have had "a Michelle meme coin."
Martin H. Simon/UPI/Newscom/The Mega Agency
The commander in chief, 80, and First Lady Melania Trump both have meme coins.
#president #imagine #former
2 months ago
Dolly Parton's death at 80 came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives confirmed to TMZ. The country legend died Tuesday at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville, surrounded by people close to her. Her passing still shocked family and friends, who knew she had been ill but believed she would recover.
Dolly Parton had spent four days hospitalized in Nashville before her death following several health problems in recent months. TMZ reported that her condition had worried those around her, yet the final outcome arrived unexpectedly. Her representatives said she devoted her life to spreading "joy, laughter, hope and integrity," while highlighting her charitable work and support for medical research.
Tributes quickly followed. Jane Fonda, Parton's longtime friend and 9 to 5 co-star, remembered her warmly, while Reba McEntire mourned the loss of a friend whose place in music could never be duplicated. McEntire wrote there would "never ever be another" Parton.
President Donald Trump, Celine Dion, Sabrina Carpenter, Barack Obama, Anne Hathaway, and several other celebrities have also paid tribute, sharing heartfelt messages after her family announced her death on social media.
Parton, famously known as the Queen of Country, built far more than a country-music career. She moved from rural Tennessee into the national spotlight through songwriting, recording, and television before becoming a major film star and entrepreneur. Her catalog includes Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You, songs that continued to travel across generations.
#mcentire #family #several
Dolly Parton had spent four days hospitalized in Nashville before her death following several health problems in recent months. TMZ reported that her condition had worried those around her, yet the final outcome arrived unexpectedly. Her representatives said she devoted her life to spreading "joy, laughter, hope and integrity," while highlighting her charitable work and support for medical research.
Tributes quickly followed. Jane Fonda, Parton's longtime friend and 9 to 5 co-star, remembered her warmly, while Reba McEntire mourned the loss of a friend whose place in music could never be duplicated. McEntire wrote there would "never ever be another" Parton.
President Donald Trump, Celine Dion, Sabrina Carpenter, Barack Obama, Anne Hathaway, and several other celebrities have also paid tribute, sharing heartfelt messages after her family announced her death on social media.
Parton, famously known as the Queen of Country, built far more than a country-music career. She moved from rural Tennessee into the national spotlight through songwriting, recording, and television before becoming a major film star and entrepreneur. Her catalog includes Jolene, 9 to 5, and I Will Always Love You, songs that continued to travel across generations.
#mcentire #family #several
2 months ago
As the WNBA finds itself in a storm of controversy, some fans want Barack Obama to take over for Cathy Engelbert as the league's new commissioner.
The last year has been difficult for Engelbert, who has come under fire for her handling of multiple issues, including the standoff during the WNBPA's collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
But the way she has failed to address the recent controversy surrounding the league has people looking to outside figures to take over as the new commissioner of the WNBA.
Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images
One fan on X suggested that Barack Obama should try and make himself available to replace Cathy Engelbert and become the new WNBA commissioner.
#obama #cathy #geoff
The last year has been difficult for Engelbert, who has come under fire for her handling of multiple issues, including the standoff during the WNBPA's collective bargaining agreement negotiations.
But the way she has failed to address the recent controversy surrounding the league has people looking to outside figures to take over as the new commissioner of the WNBA.
Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images
One fan on X suggested that Barack Obama should try and make himself available to replace Cathy Engelbert and become the new WNBA commissioner.
#obama #cathy #geoff
3 months ago
By Nate Raymond
Aug 17 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday blocked a Trump administration plan to relocate the new FBI headquarters to Washington, D.C., rather than in nearby Maryland, which had been picked in 2023 to host the building.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang sided with the Democratic-led state of Maryland and Prince George's County in ruling the administration had unlawfully scrapped a plan to construct a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, and diverted money approved by Congress for that project to an alternate location, the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington.
The judge said the selection of Ronald Reagan Building violated measures passed by Congress in 2022 and 2023 that required the General Services Administration to pick from one of three short-listed sites outside of Washington.
"Notably, the text provides no conditions under which the selection could be unilaterally rescinded or switched to a nonconforming site," wrote Chuang, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama.
#congress
Aug 17 (Reuters) - A federal judge on Monday blocked a Trump administration plan to relocate the new FBI headquarters to Washington, D.C., rather than in nearby Maryland, which had been picked in 2023 to host the building.
U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang sided with the Democratic-led state of Maryland and Prince George's County in ruling the administration had unlawfully scrapped a plan to construct a new FBI headquarters in Greenbelt, Maryland, and diverted money approved by Congress for that project to an alternate location, the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington.
The judge said the selection of Ronald Reagan Building violated measures passed by Congress in 2022 and 2023 that required the General Services Administration to pick from one of three short-listed sites outside of Washington.
"Notably, the text provides no conditions under which the selection could be unilaterally rescinded or switched to a nonconforming site," wrote Chuang, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama.
#congress
3 months ago
A U.S. judge on Monday blocked plans to move the FBI's headquarters to a federal office building in Washington, finding that President Donald Trump's administration illegally tossed out a previously approved plan to build a new facility nearby in Maryland.
The ruling is the latest development in a yearslong battle over where to house the main office for the nation's premier law enforcement agency. A site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was picked during former President Joe Biden's administration, but Trump appointees sought to reverse that decision last year in favor of repurposing the Ronald Reagan Building, a federal office complex a few blocks from the FBI's existing headquarters.
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ruled that the move was " not in accordance with law," and blocked the Trump administration from moving the FBI to the Reagan building, renovating it for the FBI or repurposing funds.
"This is not the first time courts have tried to undermine the administration in its goal to make government more cost-effective for American taxpayers," the FBI said in a statement. "The court has chosen to impermissibly intervene for political reasons. This FBI is mission focused and will continue the best course of action to meet the needs of law enforcement."
The suit was brought by the state of Maryland and Prince George's County.
#administration #maryland #reagan #blocked
The ruling is the latest development in a yearslong battle over where to house the main office for the nation's premier law enforcement agency. A site in Greenbelt, Maryland, was picked during former President Joe Biden's administration, but Trump appointees sought to reverse that decision last year in favor of repurposing the Ronald Reagan Building, a federal office complex a few blocks from the FBI's existing headquarters.
U.S. District Judge Theodore D. Chuang, an appointee of President Barack Obama, ruled that the move was " not in accordance with law," and blocked the Trump administration from moving the FBI to the Reagan building, renovating it for the FBI or repurposing funds.
"This is not the first time courts have tried to undermine the administration in its goal to make government more cost-effective for American taxpayers," the FBI said in a statement. "The court has chosen to impermissibly intervene for political reasons. This FBI is mission focused and will continue the best course of action to meet the needs of law enforcement."
The suit was brought by the state of Maryland and Prince George's County.
#administration #maryland #reagan #blocked
3 months ago
There's a special anniversary coming up on August 28: It'll be 12 years since Barack Obama wore a tan suit to a press conference at the White House, creating a sartorial stir that has since become an ongoing joke about what generated controversy back then vs. the chaos of today.
What's a mystery is just what happened to the suit. The Chicago Sun-Times and its former Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet are launching "Pursuit of the Suit," an effort to track down just what happened to the outfit.
More from Deadline
Former ABC News Field Producer's Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Accuses Matt Gutman Of Making Inappropriate ***** ualized Comments
Parties Lay Out Key Discovery And Other Dates For Pending Paramount-WBD Antitrust Trial
#suit #august
What's a mystery is just what happened to the suit. The Chicago Sun-Times and its former Washington bureau chief Lynn Sweet are launching "Pursuit of the Suit," an effort to track down just what happened to the outfit.
More from Deadline
Former ABC News Field Producer's Wrongful Termination Lawsuit Accuses Matt Gutman Of Making Inappropriate ***** ualized Comments
Parties Lay Out Key Discovery And Other Dates For Pending Paramount-WBD Antitrust Trial
#suit #august
3 months ago
Barack Obama will discuss a half-dozen of his favorite books on a new six-episode podcast coming exclusively to Audible in September.
A Great Book With Barack Obama will find the former president and yet-to-be-announced guests talking about six books that profoundly shaped his worldview and our society. Among the ****** les chosen by Obama are Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, and Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.
More from Rolling Stone
Barack Obama Pokes Fun at Tan Suit Controversy on Larry David's HBO Show Finale
Barack Obama's Summer Song List: Glen Hansard, the Strokes, Noah Kahan Lead Annual Playlist
#obama #audible
A Great Book With Barack Obama will find the former president and yet-to-be-announced guests talking about six books that profoundly shaped his worldview and our society. Among the ****** les chosen by Obama are Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses, Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon, and Robert Penn Warren's All the King's Men.
More from Rolling Stone
Barack Obama Pokes Fun at Tan Suit Controversy on Larry David's HBO Show Finale
Barack Obama's Summer Song List: Glen Hansard, the Strokes, Noah Kahan Lead Annual Playlist
#obama #audible
3 months ago
WASHINGTON (AP) — When George W. Bush wrote an essay this year about another president named George, he avoided mentioning the one named Donald.
So did Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The three ex-presidents joined a roster of historians and authors in contributing to the In Pursuit project, a 250th-anniversary series that had each writer produce an essay about a president or first lady.
Though the project was explicitly designed to transcend today's politics, some of its essays nevertheless reflect anxieties that are flaring in the era of President Donald Trump over the use of power, the health of the democracy and the integrity of the presidency.
The project is being curated by Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist who was fired without explanation by Trump last year. She instructed contributors not to be partisan or ideological. "Everybody took those instructions and that guidance very seriously," she told The ****** ociated Press. The goal was for all Americans to "feel welcome to be able to read these lessons and essays and learn something from them."
The mission, Shogan said, "is to surface the lessons from the past 250 years of American history, so that we can learn from those lessons, from both our successes and our failures, so we can plan for the present and the future. It's what has been described as debriefing the American story."
#donald #Trump #year
So did Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. The three ex-presidents joined a roster of historians and authors in contributing to the In Pursuit project, a 250th-anniversary series that had each writer produce an essay about a president or first lady.
Though the project was explicitly designed to transcend today's politics, some of its essays nevertheless reflect anxieties that are flaring in the era of President Donald Trump over the use of power, the health of the democracy and the integrity of the presidency.
The project is being curated by Colleen Shogan, the U.S. archivist who was fired without explanation by Trump last year. She instructed contributors not to be partisan or ideological. "Everybody took those instructions and that guidance very seriously," she told The ****** ociated Press. The goal was for all Americans to "feel welcome to be able to read these lessons and essays and learn something from them."
The mission, Shogan said, "is to surface the lessons from the past 250 years of American history, so that we can learn from those lessons, from both our successes and our failures, so we can plan for the present and the future. It's what has been described as debriefing the American story."
#donald #Trump #year
3 months ago
In an interview with Meet the Press, Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed says he "really enjoyed" his recent conversation with former President Barack Obama and hopes he'll campaign with him ahead of the general election.
#press #abdul #president #obama
#press #abdul #president #obama
3 months ago
Former President Barack Obama gave his infamous tan suit a comeback for a segment in Larry David's limited HBO series Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness.
"People always ask me where the tan suit came from. I think it's time the truth finally came out," Obama posted to X on Saturday, sharing part of the scene between him and David.
In the sketch, it turns out David is the one responsible for the fashion choice, which ignited a media firestorm after he wore it during a 2014 press conference. Obama received backlash from critics who felt the color choice was unpresidential. Today you the entire ordeal has its own Wikipedia page.
In the scene, Obama is getting ready for his press conference and David asks for a sip of his smoothie, a request Obama refuses.
When the president leaves the room, David sneaks a sip and ends up ruining the navy blue suit that Obama planned to wear. He then tries distracting Obama by recommending the tan suit because it's "casual Friday."
#obama #suit #president #choice
"People always ask me where the tan suit came from. I think it's time the truth finally came out," Obama posted to X on Saturday, sharing part of the scene between him and David.
In the sketch, it turns out David is the one responsible for the fashion choice, which ignited a media firestorm after he wore it during a 2014 press conference. Obama received backlash from critics who felt the color choice was unpresidential. Today you the entire ordeal has its own Wikipedia page.
In the scene, Obama is getting ready for his press conference and David asks for a sip of his smoothie, a request Obama refuses.
When the president leaves the room, David sneaks a sip and ends up ruining the navy blue suit that Obama planned to wear. He then tries distracting Obama by recommending the tan suit because it's "casual Friday."
#obama #suit #president #choice
3 months ago
Michelle Obama celebrated Barack Obama's 65th birthday with a photograph tied to the couple's newest chapter in Chicago.
The former first lady shared a behind-the-scenes image from their PEOPLE cover shoot at the Obama Presidential Center, where the couple reflected on their marriage, family and life after the White House.
Michelle praised Barack for the support he continues to give their family and the country, telling her husband that he still makes her a better person.
The August 4th tribute arrived less than two months after the Presidential Center's opening on Chicago's South Side.
"Happy birthday, BarackObama! 65 never looked better," Michelle wrote. "Every day, you make me a better person, and I'm thankful for all the ways you show up for our family and our country. Love you." She also shared the tribute through Instagram Stories with Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday."
#michelle #family #barack #happy
The former first lady shared a behind-the-scenes image from their PEOPLE cover shoot at the Obama Presidential Center, where the couple reflected on their marriage, family and life after the White House.
Michelle praised Barack for the support he continues to give their family and the country, telling her husband that he still makes her a better person.
The August 4th tribute arrived less than two months after the Presidential Center's opening on Chicago's South Side.
"Happy birthday, BarackObama! 65 never looked better," Michelle wrote. "Every day, you make me a better person, and I'm thankful for all the ways you show up for our family and our country. Love you." She also shared the tribute through Instagram Stories with Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday."
#michelle #family #barack #happy
3 months ago
Steph Curry was golfing at Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown, Massachusetts, with Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum also on the course.
The Celtics are rumored to be among the frontrunners of potentially interested teams in acquiring Curry if the 38-year-old wants to leave to win more, as the Warriors will not trade future ***** ets for win-now stars.
Naturally, Curry's presence on the same golf course as Tatum just days after the initial trade rumors started emerging is noteworthy.
Curry was part of former U.S. President Barack Obama's 65th birthday celebration while Tatum was playing with his own group a few holes ahead.
"Former United States President Barack Obama celebrated his 65th birthday on Tuesday with a round of golf at Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown… Teed it up alongside Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors."
#Warriors
The Celtics are rumored to be among the frontrunners of potentially interested teams in acquiring Curry if the 38-year-old wants to leave to win more, as the Warriors will not trade future ***** ets for win-now stars.
Naturally, Curry's presence on the same golf course as Tatum just days after the initial trade rumors started emerging is noteworthy.
Curry was part of former U.S. President Barack Obama's 65th birthday celebration while Tatum was playing with his own group a few holes ahead.
"Former United States President Barack Obama celebrated his 65th birthday on Tuesday with a round of golf at Vineyard Golf Club in Edgartown… Teed it up alongside Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors."
#Warriors
3 months ago
Michelle Obama shared a touching tribute to her husband, former President Barack Obama, in celebration of his 65th birthday on August 4.
The father of two was beaming in the photo that his wife posted to social media, as he sat beside her and held her hand. Michelle rested her head on his shoulder in the snap, sweetly peering up at him with a look of love.
While Barack looked dapper in a navy suit and a white ******* on-up shirt, Michelle was dazzling in a white dress with a sweetheart neckline, paired with white slingback heels.
Michelle celebrated Barack's special day with a tribute (Instagram)
"Happy birthday BarackObama! 65 never looked better. Every day, you make me a better person, and I'm thankful for all the ways you show up for our family and our country. Love you," she wrote in the caption, as fans rushed to the comment section to exclaim over Barack's seemingly ageless visage.
#obama #tribute
The father of two was beaming in the photo that his wife posted to social media, as he sat beside her and held her hand. Michelle rested her head on his shoulder in the snap, sweetly peering up at him with a look of love.
While Barack looked dapper in a navy suit and a white ******* on-up shirt, Michelle was dazzling in a white dress with a sweetheart neckline, paired with white slingback heels.
Michelle celebrated Barack's special day with a tribute (Instagram)
"Happy birthday BarackObama! 65 never looked better. Every day, you make me a better person, and I'm thankful for all the ways you show up for our family and our country. Love you," she wrote in the caption, as fans rushed to the comment section to exclaim over Barack's seemingly ageless visage.
#obama #tribute
3 months ago
Carlos Alcaraz is turning heads for more than just his return to tennis. The four-time Grand Slam champion surprised fans on social media by unveiling a dramatic new hairstyle, trading his signature longer locks for sleek boxer braids in what marks one of his boldest style transformations yet.
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#alcaraz #slam #barack #simone
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#alcaraz #slam #barack #simone
3 months ago
A federal appellate panel on Tuesday refused to block President Donald Trump's executive order seeking to restrict mail voting, a day after the administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the proposal in a separate case.
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a May ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols that said an injunction against the order was premature. Nichols ruled that the Democrats and voting rights groups who challenged the order couldn't seek the injunction until the Trump administration issued formal regulations governing it. The administration started releasing those directives days later.
The circuit court panel, with two judges appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and one by Trump, found that was proper and there were no noted dissents. But the unsigned decision noted that if the administration truly tried to force such changes in the few months remaining before November's midterm election, it may well get halted by courts.
"The action the Order contemplates would involve the President, whom the Constitution vests with no express authority over the conduct of elections, undertaking a substantial and unfunded overhaul of election procedures — including the implementation of a nationwide reform to Postal Service mail-handling processes —on the threshold of the November election. Put differently, the Order 'may not prove feasible to implement in any manner whatsoever,'" said the ruling, quoting a prior legal opinion.
In a separate case filed by Democratic state officials, a federal judge in Massachusetts last month blocked the executive order from taking effect for this year's elections because it was already forcing states, which are granted the power under the U.S. Constitution to control their own elections, to revise their procedures on the fly. That ruling was upheld on Saturday by a Boston-based appeals court and then was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday by the Trump administration.
#order
The three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld a May ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols that said an injunction against the order was premature. Nichols ruled that the Democrats and voting rights groups who challenged the order couldn't seek the injunction until the Trump administration issued formal regulations governing it. The administration started releasing those directives days later.
The circuit court panel, with two judges appointed by former Democratic President Barack Obama and one by Trump, found that was proper and there were no noted dissents. But the unsigned decision noted that if the administration truly tried to force such changes in the few months remaining before November's midterm election, it may well get halted by courts.
"The action the Order contemplates would involve the President, whom the Constitution vests with no express authority over the conduct of elections, undertaking a substantial and unfunded overhaul of election procedures — including the implementation of a nationwide reform to Postal Service mail-handling processes —on the threshold of the November election. Put differently, the Order 'may not prove feasible to implement in any manner whatsoever,'" said the ruling, quoting a prior legal opinion.
In a separate case filed by Democratic state officials, a federal judge in Massachusetts last month blocked the executive order from taking effect for this year's elections because it was already forcing states, which are granted the power under the U.S. Constitution to control their own elections, to revise their procedures on the fly. That ruling was upheld on Saturday by a Boston-based appeals court and then was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday by the Trump administration.
#order
3 months ago
Former US President Barack Obama unknowingly gave Angel Reese a reality check.
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is being held in Chicago as fans line up to watch the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in action.
Since the All-Star weekend is in Chicago, former US President Barack Obama is actively involved in the event because of his deep love for the game of basketball.
John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
With the All-Star weekend kicking off, players from around the country landed in Chicago, including Atlanta Sky star Angel Reese.
#reese #obama
The 2026 WNBA All-Star Game is being held in Chicago as fans line up to watch the likes of Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in action.
Since the All-Star weekend is in Chicago, former US President Barack Obama is actively involved in the event because of his deep love for the game of basketball.
John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
With the All-Star weekend kicking off, players from around the country landed in Chicago, including Atlanta Sky star Angel Reese.
#reese #obama
3 months ago
Brett McGurk is a CNN global affairs ****** yst who served in senior national security positions under Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
Wars often end somewhere different from where they begin.
The current conflict with Iran has been plagued by ill-defined and shifting objectives, from aspirations of regime change to more focused aims of degrading Iran's nuclear and military capabilities.
Nearly six months in, it has evolved into something else entirely: a struggle over who controls the Strait of Hormuz and, with it, one of the world's most important arteries for global energy. Iran has demonstrated both the capability and willingness to target commercial shipping passing through the strait unless conducted under rules Tehran prescribes.
The US – and much of the world, including all the Gulf states adjacent to the strait – has rightly deemed that unacceptable.
#strait #bush #obama
Wars often end somewhere different from where they begin.
The current conflict with Iran has been plagued by ill-defined and shifting objectives, from aspirations of regime change to more focused aims of degrading Iran's nuclear and military capabilities.
Nearly six months in, it has evolved into something else entirely: a struggle over who controls the Strait of Hormuz and, with it, one of the world's most important arteries for global energy. Iran has demonstrated both the capability and willingness to target commercial shipping passing through the strait unless conducted under rules Tehran prescribes.
The US – and much of the world, including all the Gulf states adjacent to the strait – has rightly deemed that unacceptable.
#strait #bush #obama
